Eurovision Song Contest: Raab’s difficult ESC selection: “Too many good people”

Only the victory counts: In the German preliminary decision for the Eurovision Song Contest, Stefan Raab and his jury team selected the last nine participants, of whom the big throw should succeed in Basel in May. A total of 14 candidates fought for the coveted final tickets in the semi -finals of “Chefsmache ESC 2025” (RTL, ARD) – and made Raab & Co. difficult with faultless appearances and multifaceted songs.

The fact that all of the remaining artists brought a great talent were out of the question in the semi -finals. With their own songs, which they presented for the first time on Saturday evening and are considered as an ESC contribution, they were primarily praised by the jury. But surely to meet all the tones was no longer the most important criterion for the jurors. “In the end we considered: who has the best chance?” Said Raab. For him it is clear that if you are supposed to go to Basel for Germany, you have to be able to hit the taste of the spectators all over Europe.

Jury puzzles: Does the ESC rocking knight?

The search for the right ingredients becomes a challenge at the first appearance of the evening. The medieval rock band Feuerwanz are probably the most exotic participant in the competition who brought a song about wild knights on stage in nightlife with “Knightclub”. With sparks of scattering guitars and armor as a costume, they delivered a spectacle, as did Raab. But is that also something for Basel? Juror Yvonne Catterfeld was not so sure: “Is it too crazy? Or is it exactly what the ESC needs?” At the end, the consideration was in favor of the Nuremberg, they are included in the final.

As early as the fourth appearance of the evening, the jurors realized how difficult they would make the decisions later. The alternative pop band Cosby got one of the coveted final tickets. Her song “I’m Still here”, about the late father of the singer Marie Kobylka, touched Catterfeld herself. Raab was also convinced: “Too many good people here today. Usually we can do three years ESC with what is still coming here.”

Raab: Songs have to get stuck in the head

The high bar from Raab & Co. becomes clear in the semifinals for the pop soul singer Jaln. With the song “Weg from you”, a kind of billing with a past love, the 23-year-old from Cologne delivers an impeccable appearance and even hits the highest tones. Music and singing were “completely okay”, Raab judged – but the song would not really get stuck in the head. “I didn’t get the access like this,” said guest juror Max Giesinger.

Jaln misses the final as well as the Nu Metal band from Fall to Spring. The jury was still quite convinced after the Saarlanders appeared. Raab called the band “Incredibly Tight”, which even received the invitation to the big Wacken Festival after the preliminary round. But one “would have to worry about whether this will find his audience at the ESC,” said Raab. As a warning example, he performed the rock band Lord of the Lost, with which Germany tried something else at the ESC 2023 – and promptly took last place.

Raab helps “sophisticated point system”

How serious the ESC expert Raab – since 1998 he has been involved in six contributions, performed himself and contributed to Lena’s victory in 2010 – he is definitely looking at. His feedback after the appearances is sober and detailed, joking the actual saying knocker can be rarely carried away. During the appearances, Raab is crawling into a notebook, and sometimes continues to write when presenter Barbara Schöneberger asks for his opinion. In the notes, he leads a “sophisticated point system,” said Raab, in which six participants had already had the final after their appearances.

The chief judge did not reveal which six were included. But some, such as the British singer Moss Kena living in Berlin, may have had the next round in her pocket quickly. “It is almost too good for the ESC. It was sensational,” praised Juror Elton after the pop singer appeared. The rest of the jury joined. The pop rap duo Abor & Tynna benefited particularly from the jury’s target group thinking. According to Raab “, the song” Baller “marked by fast beats was the most recent song” in competition – and would totally go off in the Tikok generation “, Giesinger described it.

Live show needs more time than planned

Until the jurors and Raab’s point system sent nine overjoyed candidates to the final, the live show had already blown up the time framework. Not only at 23:38, almost 20 minutes later than in the program, Schöneberger spoke the final word for the semi -finals. It was the last live show that Raab’s new home broadcaster RTL radiated in cooperation with the NDR.

The grand finale will increase next Saturday evening (8:15 p.m.) in the first. Five of the semi -finalists are no longer there – but it was not a decision against them, Raab emphasized. “We don’t throw anyone out. We only let people go on.”